Chapter 126: Disgusting

To these indigenous villagers, the Revolutionary Committee was a truly formidable entity; even the production team leader kept his distance from that place. In truth, they couldn't fathom what "old feudal ways" had to do with the Revolutionary Committee. Yet, they dared not refute anything said by the young woman who had arrived with the mother of the Qian family's daughter-in-law. After all, it was well known that she was an educated youth from the city, and judging by her own words, she often spent time at the Revolutionary Committee.

Consequently, the gossiping old women were intimidated, though a few remained stubborn. They switched to a softer approach, saying to Li Xihua, "Even if you think Qian Darong isn't much of a man, it’s true that he’s been good to you. Is there any need to blow this out of proportion?"

"Exactly," another voice piped up from the crowd. "A day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of grace. You two have had a genuinely good relationship all these years; you shouldn't get a divorce over such a trivial matter."

Little did they know, this remark played right into Tang Xin's hands. Tang Xin raised an eyebrow and, with a deliberate smile, said to Li Xihua, "Big Sister, look, the people in this production team are speaking fairly, too. You really should divorce Qian Darong. Why should you stay tied to a man who can’t even father children, wasting your future and your youth?"

These were the very words the old Mrs. Qian often used to oppress Li Xihua. By throwing them back, Tang Xin was intentionally trying to disgust the Qian family. Sure enough, as soon as Tang Xin finished, the faces of both the old man and old woman of the Qian family turned ghastly, as if they had been forced to swallow excrement.

Old Mrs. Qian finally snapped out of her stupor and began to shriek, "Stop spouting nonsense! How could my son be unable to have children? Don't you dare lie and slander him!" She was nearly livid; to have it said in public that her son was infertile—humph, they didn’t want a daughter-in-law like this, not even if the Li family paid them a hundred catties of grain to take her!

But the current Mrs. Fang was far more confident than before. The minor scratch on her hand meant nothing to her; in fact, she was inwardly pleased. "My daughter said your son isn't a real man—are you saying she fabricated that?"

Such matters, of course, remain unknown unless brought to light. But once a couple tears off the mask and exposes the truth, it is easily verified. While it might be inconvenient for the women to investigate, were there not plenty of men present?

The crowd was in an uproar, with everyone saying something different, but most began to believe the Li family's account. Old Mrs. Qian couldn't accept it; she threw herself onto the ground, rolling and wailing, insisting that Li Xihua, that "little slut," was fabricating facts to slander her son.

In the past, Li Xihua might have endured it, out of respect for their years as husband and wife and the memory of the one hundred yuan they had helped her family with long ago. But having just watched her mother-in-law harm her own mother, and suddenly reading the complex emotion in her sister-in-law's eyes, everything changed. Her sister-in-law was telling her: even if we are determined to back you up, it’s useless if you don’t stand up for yourself.

Suddenly, Li Xihua found confidence in life again. Yes, she hadn't lacked the thought of divorcing Qian Darong; life in the Qian household was truly bitter. Back at her parents' home, though she worked constantly, she was cherished by her parents and respected by her siblings—she was happy. Since marrying into the Qian family, she had done no less work, but had endured endless scolding. For years, she had lived under immense mental pressure with no way out. Her parents' situation was difficult, and she couldn't burden them further with a failed marriage.

But now, things at her parents' home were different. She had fled home during the New Year in a fit of pique, initially afraid to overstay her welcome—after all, what married daughter stays at her parents' home for so long? Especially now that her younger brother had married and his wife managed the household. Yet, her sister-in-law had told her to stay as long as she liked, promising that her parents' home would always be her sanctuary, even if she stayed for a lifetime.

Looking back, had her sister-in-law realized the conflict in her marriage even then and spoken those words on purpose? Li Xihua shook the thought away—it seemed impossible. Her mother simply adored her daughter-in-law and thought everything about Tang Xin was perfect. In reality, how could Tang Xin be so magical as to know what was happening at the Qian household all the way from the Harvest Production Team?

Tang Xin wiped Mrs. Fang’s hand with a handkerchief. Seeing the scratch wasn't deep, she didn't bother bandaging it, but said to Li Xihua, "Big Sister, Mother’s hand is hurt and can’t touch water these next few days. The chores at home will have to rely on you."

Getting a divorce today was clearly impossible, but at the very least, they had to take her eldest sister back with them.

Li Xihua, who had just been touched by her sister-in-law’s kindness in defending her, was stunned by this remark. Her gratitude vanished instantly—so, bringing her back to her parents' house meant she’d be doing the chores? Her mother’s hand couldn't touch water, but was her "highness" the sister-in-law’s hands too precious to wash clothes or cook?

However, in front of outsiders, Li Xihua knew she had to preserve her sister-in-law's dignity. She gritted her teeth and said, "Don't worry, I won't let Mother’s hand get hurt again." As she spoke, she cast a deliberate glance at old Mrs. Qian.

She suddenly felt foolish for having been so stubborn and blind. This old woman was hateful and had never treated her as a daughter-in-law, but as a beast of burden to be abused. How could she have been so stupid as to let herself be manipulated, toiling away like an ox or horse for the entire Qian family?

Li Xihua looked back at her father, who had remained silent but had offered support through his steady gaze and presence. Initially, no one had noticed how vicious Mrs. Qian could be, which was how she had managed to scratch Li Xihua's mother. Since then, her father had maintained a protective stance beside Mrs. Fang and Tang Xin, and with the righteous-looking Gu Changfu nearby, old Mrs. Qian dared not be too rampant. She could roll on the ground and throw a tantrum, but she dared not lay a hand on the Li family again.

While she claimed to have many friends, this was the Qian family's territory, and those relationships were mostly superficial. People might gossip to help you, but they wouldn't actually step in to fight on your behalf, especially since Mrs. Qian hadn't treated the neighbors well in the past. Why should they rush to her aid now that she was in trouble?

It was precisely because she saw this that Tang Xin had the confidence to come to the Qian family's turf and cause a scene; after all, everyone in their group was there for a concrete purpose. More and more people gathered outside the Qian family's courtyard to watch the spectacle. At first, Li’s father felt embarrassed, but his daughter-in-law told them: "Father, Mother, you cannot just worry about losing face. We must support Big Sister to the end. It is the Qian family that is disgusting; we cannot let them manipulate us and let Big Sister suffer."